Member News
A Bill presented by Joan Walley MP to make provision for the creation of a code regarding the procurement of sustainable food by public bodies.
The Bill presented by Joan Walley MP is designed to enforce mandatory standards for food produced for the public sector. Her campaign notes that whilst sustainability standards have been introduced for other areas of public sector procurement in recent years, the same has yet to be seen for food, to which no minimum standards currently apply.
The Bill would impose mandatory standards in areas including environmental sustainability, animal welfare, the treatment of suppliers, and salt and fat content. It would apply to all areas of the public sector, including schools, hospitals, care homes and the armed forces.
The Bill is supported by Sustain's Good Food for Our Money campaign, which has been lobbying on this issue since 2009. The campaign has the support of more than 50 health, environmental, farming and business organisations, including Friends of the Earth, WWF UK, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Unite. A full list of supporters is available here.
The Bill was introduced to Parliament on 30 June 2010 and will have its second reading on 12 November.
Progress:
House of Commons
1st reading: 30 June 2010
2nd reading: 17 June 2011
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